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Miami Palmetto Senior High School
7460 SW 118 Street, Miami, FL 33156
Thursday 17 December 2015
YEAR IN
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2015 [YEAR IN
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WORLD WAR TERROR
MINDFULNESS OVER MATTER
2015: A YEAR IN REVIEW
A look at ISIS’ growing power and influence.
Meditation compels millions to ‘zen out’.
The Panther looks back at the year’s biggest moments in news, pop culture and at Palmetto.
10 13
19 21 PANTHER TO COUGAR
#SOCIALACTIVISM
A former Panther’s path to success in college football.
Is social media activism really activism?
THE H
COVER
ON
ow do we measure a year? It is not in the perfectly sized rectangles on our calendars but in the memories we create. In a mere 365 days, we undergo tremendous transformations. We have experienced triumph in the legalization of gay marriage and heartache in the murder of thousands at the hands of terror. We have experienced a taste of what is to come in the year ahead with a momentous global climate agreement. Most importantly, we learned and grew. As 2015 comes to a close, seize every opportunity. Be fearless in your pursuits. The Panther wishes you a happy and safe new year. See you in January, Palmetto.
FUN FACT: In order to get the balloons perfectly positioned for the cover photo, the strings had to be taped onto the wall to prevent them from floating away.
The gold on the cover and in the issue was achieved through inserting a photo of gold foil into the letters to attain a New Year’s Eve effect.
COVER AND CONTENTS PHOTOS BY ANNABEL SANZ
W E I ReV THE
ROUND-UP
THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS FILED AGAINST CHICAGO POLICE SINCE 2001.
REVIEW3
BRIEFING PARIS GLOBAL CLIMATE TALKS Over 190 countries gathered in Paris for 11 days to discuss the impending issue of climate change. The United States was determined to conceive a deal by the end of the conference on December 11, in which developed nations revise their current economic plans for scientific advancements and better understand climate change in order to prevent the two degree celsius temperature rise by 2100. While for developing countries, the U.S. encourages them to record their carbon emissions and work to reduce them. The U.S. passed the Clean Power Plan, the hope of which is to reduce carbon emissions by 32 percent by 2030.
INFORMATION COURTESY OF CNN
HISTORY
“
KIM KARDASHIAN NAMES HER SON, “SAINT WEST”
in the making
st Time
I think Saint West is almost as dumb as North West. The Wests’ should not be allowed to pick their own children’s names.”
WOMEN IN
KILEY KROSS (10)
ARE ALLOWED TO VOTE
FACE-OFF
SAUDI ARABIA
INFORMATION COURTESY OF BBC NEWS
WHAT IS THE SOLUTION TO MASS SHOOTINGS IN THE U.S.?
SAN BERNARDINO SHOOTING On December 2, Syed Rizwan Farook left the annual office party at the Inland Regional Center in San Bernardino, CA to go to the bathroom and came back with his wife, Tashfeen Malik and semiautomatic weapons with the intent to kill. The couple managed to escape in a vehicle, and left behind 14 people dead and 21 others wounded after spraying almost 75 bullets across the Center. After a car chase and 456 bullet exchange between officers and shooters, the couple was dead. This mass shooting has been considered a terrorist attack, as has many Americans questioning their safety and the safety of the nation. This attack is the deadliest mass shooting in the United States since Sandy Hook in 2013.
BECKHAM STADIUM IN MIAMI
“
We should make assault weapons illegal. It would allow people to be more comfortable.” AVA GRUENER (12)
INFORMATION COMPILED BY REMY FARKAS GRAPHICS BY ANNABEL SANZ
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We should get more security. Many people would be more deterred by armed security guards” SHELBY LOEB (11)
Soccer star David Beckham met with Superintendent, Alberto Carvalho of Miami-Dade Public Schools (MDCPS) in regards to building a soccer stadium, for a potential Major League Soccer (MLS) team. MDCPS would be Beckham’s landlord if he were to build the $200 million stadium next to the Marlins Park. The stadium would be transferred to MDCPS in order to avoid paying property-taxes. In return, the stadium would hold free large-school events and sports-education classes and activities. Beckham would also sponsor some individual MDCPS school activities. The decision to build the stadium will be made on March 15 by voters.
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REPORT 5
SILVER KNIGHT NOMINEES 2016
The Miami Herald Silver Knight Awards honor students who excel in school while contributing to their community. Nominees can come from schools in Miami-Dade and Broward County and must have at least a 3.2 GPA. One student per school can be nominated for each of the 15 categories. Nominees are interviewed by a panel of judges who select one Silver Knight and three Honorable Mentions. PHOTO COURTESY OF FOX-MAR
Lauren Lipsky Art Selris James Project “I work with little kids and help them make ceramics. I think it is a unique talent and I want to inspire kids to have a passion for art.”
Claire Zuo English and Literature Palmetto Women’s Union “My project catalyzed a dialogue about feminism at my school, what could be done with regards to activism in high school.”
Kayla Spigelman Science Trick or Treat Food to Eat “I am able to provide meals to people who struggle each and every night to put food on the table for themselves and their families.”
Emma Seckinger Athletics Students Offering Support
Dylan Solomon Business Shake A Leg Miami
Nicole Rosario Digital and Interactive Media Books In Aid
“SOS has helped benefit all aspects of the community by volunteering and fundraising for various local organizations.”
“I help kids find a place to escape all of their troubles. Hopefully we are able to give them a mentor to help them succeed in life.”
Shalla Sorensen General Scholarship Oreolicious Fundraiser
Annabel Sanz Journalism A Bridge to English
Logan Kraus Mathematics Tutoring for Tomorrow
“The ESOL students I have tutored have grown more confident and tremendously improved their language skills. It’s been very rewarding.”
“Through our free middle school tutoring programs, we’ve been able to help a significant numbers of students in math.”
“I hope my work inspires people, especially those younger than me to take a stand against environmental issues and to express themselves.”
Jeffrey Li Social Science PantherMUN “PantherMUN’s very conception serves as a rare, accessible opportunity to promote a true sense of global responsibility.”
Gabriela Aklepi Speech Panther to Panther “I connect new students with valuable information, so they will not need to look back with regret because of a lack of understanding.”
“My project benefited a local day center and medical facility that cares for children that suffer from various medical setbacks.”
Carolina Miranda Vocational Technical Crimson Angel “I was able to bring in the ‘Big Red Bus’ which allowed anyone in the community to donate blood.”
Kayla Ladis Drama Healing Harmonies “My project lifts the spirits of the oncology patients and their families that we perform for.”
Ross Rosen Music and Dance Healing Harmonies “I play music for cancer patients at Baptist. It brightens their day and makes them feel better when they are going through tough times.”
Sophia Paredes World Languages The Ecuador Project “I think the most important legacy it’ll leave behind will be the kids themselves, through their education.”
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GRAPHIC BY SUNGHO SON
WWIII: THE SOCIAL WAR How social media is ISIS’s biggest weapon and the world’s greatest defense As she stepped out into the November night, 24-yearold Caroline Prénat felt a chill in the air, alongside the unmistakable sense of excitement and energy. The city geared itself for a typical Parisian Friday night- sidewalk cafés and restaurants opened their doors to hundreds eager to sit outside and bask in a city eternally romanticized in films and novels. While Prénat headed towards the esteemed Bataclan theater to watch the Eagles of Death Metal play for a crowd of 1500, a monumental soccer match between historic rivals France and Germany, was underway at the Stade de France in a northern suburb of Paris. French President, François Hollande cheered as players kicked the ball across midfield. Miles away, Prénat nodded her head to the beat of classic rock. The idyllic illusion was soon shattered and an ordinary Friday night turned into a
bloodbath. In the midst of the game came the unmistakable sound of an explosion, immediately startling the crowd. Then came another. At the Bataclan, gunshots interrupted the Eagles’ set and screams of terror replaced the voices singing along. As lives were taken in seconds, blood filled the streets of the sidewalk cafés mere miles away. Quickly, the individuals at each location came to a realizationParis was under siege of a terrorist attack- for the second time this year. “The Paris shooting was a terrible tragedy. It makes people worry more about the threat of terrorism,” junior Jack Kniesely said. The parallelism could not be more jarring as the year comes full circle. Paris entered 2015 marred in blood and terror after the Charlie Hebdo attacks and exits it in an all too similar position. In January, 11 Parisian journalists died at the hands of two Islamic gunmen.
Ten months later in November, 130 more were dead, their lives taken by terrorists belonging to ISIS. As the screeching of sirens filled the air, Paris was forever changed, joining the ranks of cities tainted by the stain of terrorism. This attack, the deadliest in Paris since World War II, came a day after Beirut’s worst suicide bombing in 25 years and three weeks before the deadliest shooting in the United States since Sandy Hook, in San Bernardino, California. It seems as though this year has jumped from one terror attack to the next. In 2014, the number of people killed by terrorism reached a record high, with terrorist activity increasing by 80%, according to the 2015 Global Terrorism Index. ISIS, though, has been on the forefront of executing most terror attacks this year after claiming 6,073 lives in 2014. Their power as an extremist terror cell has grown rapidly,
unlike any group before it. While al-Qaeda reigned as the most prominent terrorist organization in the early 2000s, it did not have what ISIS may consider its biggest weaponsocial media. “Social media should be used to degrade and discourage terrorism,” sophomore Diego Ventosa said. The rise of social networking sites such as Facebook, Twitter and Instagram have become useful tools for the terrorists of today, allowing them to recruit followers from all over the world. Through their command of the online world, ISIS has attracted a community of young people from an estimated 90 nations to serve and wage jihad in their respective countries, contributing to the terror group’s growing influence in different areas of the world. According to the AntiDefamation League (ADL), in 2015, more than twice as many U.S. residents have been
he Panther
Home
#notinmyname Top Tweets
ABOUT THE CRISIS
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#NotInMyName @NOT_INMYNAME
After the Paris attacks executed by Islamic terrorists, Muslims on social media used the hashtag #NotInMyName to condemn ISIS and show that they do not represent Islam as a religion.
BT
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Beverly Taborda @freshman
If [terrorists] were doing God a favor, they wouldn’t be killing people.
HK
Hiba Khalil @sophomore
MH
Malik Hall @junior
On November 13, 2015, Paris experienced a series of coordinated terror attacks in the form of suicide bombings and shootings at cafés, restaurants and the esteemed Bataclan theatre. One hundred and thirty people were killed, making the attack the deadliest in France since World War II. Shortly after the attacks, ISIS claimed responsibility. INFOGRAPHIC BY SUNGHO SON PHOTOS BY OLYMPIA RODRIGUEZ
linked to Islamist extremist plots than in the past two years. This growth can be attributed to easier and more open channels of communication in the form of Tweets and Facebook messages. Social media has made eliminating a group like ISIS much more difficult. A lack of funds or a homebase would not be enough as long as the Internet is present. “Terrorism can’t really be erased altogether because it is an ideology,” Ventosa said. At the forefront of the fight against terrorism has been the very sites terrorists have been using to advance their power. On the Friday night following the attacks in Paris, Facebook enabled the use of Safety Checks and Temporary
Profiles.The former allowed those directly affected by the attacks to mark themselves as ‘safe’ to inform family and friends while the latter allowed users to place a french flag filter over their profile picture as a show of solidarity. One day after the features launched, 4.1 million people marked themselves as safe and 360 million people were notified that someone was safe. “I think social media is helping more because more people are hearing about ISIS,” sophomore Jimena Alvarez said. “This is acting as free advertisement for their organization.”
SF
I think [the hashtag] is great. Of course Muslims were not involved. I’m Muslim myself and I do not stand with a bombing like that.
Sarah Fahmy @senior
Annabel Sanz
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STUDENT REVIEW:
Palmetto students share their experience at R Squared Prep. “My preparation here boosted my confidence so that I was ready to take the test with ease” Brianna Prindle (12)
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LIFE 10
QUIET YOUR MIND Meditation does not necessarily embody the cross-legged meditation in class based on the research of Dr. Jon Kabat-Zinn, individual sitting still on a mat with closed eyes that often comes to creator of the Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR). mind. New medical and holistic healthcare shows how meditation “My grandparents are Buddhist monks [and] they taught me to do may help alleviate stress and improve one’s outlook on life. it,” junior Areeya Vesvoranan said. “I start focusing on my breathing. Dr. Justin Newman, founder of The Banyan Holistic in Kendall It helps me to calm myself. If I have a difficult test tomorrow, I will located in The Villas of Pinecrest, has worked in the holistic health meditate to help me remember what I read and study.” field for 22 years and specializes in meditation. The center helps Miami-Dade County Public Schools (MDCPS) and Mindful clients learn how to understand meditation’s positive effects on work Kids Miami, a non-profit organization aiming to enlighten teachers ethic, productivity, mood and health. and students of mindfulness, teamed up in the Inner Journey“[Meditation] is a naturally occurring state of mind,” Newman Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (IJMBSR) pilot program to said. “The mind will become meditative on its own if you allow create more controlled classrooms and an overall increase in student it to.” and staff wellbeing. Additional sources such as the free Smiling Mind According to The Banyan Holistic, the brain’s consciousness app offers aid for all ages to start and maintain meditation practices. consists of 10 percent of the mind, responsible for active thinking, Research in the past decade has suggested various medical while the subconscious consists of 90 percent of the mind, where benefits of meditation as well. A study by UCLA found more all experiences, stored knowledge, memories and sensory hippocampal tissue, responsible for long-term memory, in the images are stored. Meditation allows for a person to access the brains of those who meditated regularly versus those who did subconscious and enter a deep concentration. This allows for not. This evidence suggests a deeper connection between self-healing from stress, emotional trauma and tension. meditation and brain functions. The Banyan Holistic conducted a project in which “We’re seeing enhanced cognitive abilities as employees visited MDCPS third grade classes for ten people grow older,” AP Psychology teacher Gwendolyn minutes a day over the course of six weeks, teaching them Schoolar said. BUILDING how to meditate before taking the Florida Comprehensive Medical professionals now increasingly use meditation to BLOCKS treat mild depression, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, cancer Assessment Test (FCAT) for the first time. The results showed that the students who participated in meditation performed patients, stress and chronic pain. As for the average student, OF better than those who did not. meditation helps to stay in the moment and avoid MEDITATION According to Newman, the average person becoming overwhelmed. thinks over 50,000 times a day and mindful “The results are cumulative,” Newman BREATH AWARENESS meditation helps to maintain focus on relevant said. “The more you practice, the deeper tasks. For those with busy schedules, meditating you’ll go, because the mind likes to think and ONE’S ABILITY TO CONTROL BREATHING, WHICH WILL BE briefly in between tasks can help reduce stress, figure things out. You just have to allow BECOME MORE RHYTHMIC such as waiting in line or sitting in traffic. [meditation] as an ordinary type of thing like WHEN RELAXED. THIS “Mindfulness and meditation practice brushing your teeth.” HEIGHTENS AWARENESS OF [help] keep all those thoughts as just one SURROUNDINGS AND SELF. Marlowe Starling thing [and] stay in a state of flow and optimal Insight Editor AFFIRMATION performance mentally and physically,” m.starling.thepanther@gmail.com THE PROCESS OF Newman said. POSITIVE REINFORCEMENT Advanced AND VALIDATING Placement PERSONAL POTENTIAL. Psychology VISUALIZATION teacher Amy VISUALLY PLACING ONESELF Schaffer Marlowe Starling IN AN IDEAL ENVIRONMENT teaches Insight AND MAINTAINING THEEditor INFOGRAPHIC BY OLYMPIA RODRIGUEZ mindfulness m.starling.thepanther@gmail.com INFORMATION COURTESY OF DR. JUSTIN NEWMAN PREVIOUS TWO PRACTICES.
THE 3
LIFE 11
BUDDHIST BY CHOICE B
orn into a Catholic family with Argentinean roots, sophomore Nicholas Macia has found a way to express his beliefs in life through the teachings of Siddhartha Gautama, the founder of Buddhism. Despite no religious influences in his life besides his parents, Macia decided to pursue a religion that suited his philosophical beliefs at a young age, through internet research. Macia’s decision to pick a religion without any external pressure was an early indication of the independence that now defines his life: a life that first encountered religion through his Baptism. Visits to local Buddhist temples and tea tastings with friends have shaped Macia’s upbringing. Buddhism’s emphasis on moderation first attracted Macia to explore the foundation of the religion. “I believe that the more you get attached to something the more pleasure you can feel and the more hurt you can feel so I take the middle path,” Macia said. The middle path ties into Buddhism’s two most prominent pillars: The Four Noble Truths and The Eightfold Path. The Four Noble Truths explain how to deal with suffering, labeling it as an allimportant part of life. The Eightfold Path lays out eight morals that summarize what a Buddhist should strive for; including total concentration during meditation and an understanding of life and all its elements. By utilizing the three basic beliefs of Buddhism, a follower should hope to reach Nirvana, a transcendent state in which there is neither suffering, desire nor sense of self. It is the final goal. Despite a general recognition of these basic principles, Macia struggles to credit Nirvana as the ultimate goal in Buddhism. “When people talk about reincarnation in Buddhism, they interpret it in different ways,” Macia said. “Some believe you
actually come back into this world depending on your past life. I believe we’re reincarnated every time you learn something new and that changes you.” This belief has been firmly rooted through Macia’s personal adventures. Last summer, Macia visited China after two years of saving up money earned as a summer youth soccer coach. After he learned Mandarin, Macia made his work profitable and traveled across the world by himself an occurrence that his parents begrudgingly supported as long as they did not have to make any financial sacrifices.
“
AT THE END OF THE DAY, IT DOESN’T MATTER WHAT I HAVE OR WHERE I’VE BEEN. JUST THAT I’VE MADE SOMEONE ELSE’S LIFE BETTER.
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Nicholas Macia (10)
PHOTO BY CHRYSTAL PETERSON
In China, Buddhism and tea tasting, Macia’s two passions were rewarded in the form of gifts. He was given a painting made out of tea leaves by an esteemed Chinese tea maker during his time in China. In addition, Macia was given a necklace with a Buddha on it and a wooden bracelet by a Buddhist tea maker. While he values the effort put into making these traditional Chinese accessories, Macia does not consider these items, or any for that matter, holy. This view is representative of the Buddhist notion over the inmateriality of an object. Macia still wears the necklace daily and uses the bracelet when he meditates, usually an unscheduled activity. “If I have a moment of peace, whether on the bus to school or just at home, I reflect on my thoughts.”
Thomas Martinez Copy Editor
t.martinez.thepanther@gmail.com
LIFE 12
Sleep is a vital bodily process, yet only 15 percent of teenagers receive the recommended minimum of eight hours on school nights, according to the National Sleep Foundation. “Sleep is much more important than we realize,” Advanced Placement Psychology teacher Gwendolyn Schoolar said. “It provides an opportunity for our bodies to restore tissue, [and] allows our brain to lay down neural pathways regarding things that we’ve learned. Sleep researchers really feel like sleep should be right up there with diet and exercise. It is as important.” As much as students would like to get enough sleep on weeknights, their circadian rhythms work against the time school starts. The circadian rhythm consists of cognitive, physiological, and behavioral changes that occur within an organism in relation to the changes of light and dark in a 24 hour cycle. “During late adolescence your biological clock is set back. You don’t even start producing melatonin [a chemical in the brain that controls the body’s sleep and wake cycles] until probably around 10:30 or so,” Schoolar said. “You’re not inclined to go to sleep early and then you need
that much sleep and then we start school at 7:20.” Some students feel as though they must decide between homework, sleep and their social lives, due to their biological clocks. “If I don’t do my homework then I can get [eight to ten hours] of sleep,” junior Melissa Prata said. “It’s quite hard to have all three. Many sacrifice sleep in order to have good grades and a fulfilling social life. I get around seven hours of sleep [but still feel tired] every single day.” Prata works on a schedule, making sure to start her homework as soon as she returns from school. She is a member of the Photography Club, Pink Ribbon Club and Modern Music Masters, which all have monthly meetings and do not demand copious amounts of her time, like her homework. To some teens, the peace of mind received from fulfilling their obligations supersedes the necessity of sleep. “I sacrifice my sleep for my obligations because later on I won’t be able to sleep worrying about how I am going to finish them the next day,” junior Stephanie Navaro said. Navarro’s schedule consists of being
Secretary for Spanish National Honor Society, a youth commissioner on the Miami Dade Youth Commission and taking three AP classes. Like Prata, she gets an average of seven hours of sleep on weekdays, but she still feels tired the next morning. Freshman Karina Cabrera offered a solution for teens like Navarro in order to consistently receive more sleep. “Plan your day out as best as possible and take breaks so that you don’t get worn down,” Cabrera said. “Once you start something, finish it so that you can get it off your table.” Cabrera emphasizes time management, while Schoolar feels that it is impossible to accomplish everything in one day, regardless of time management skills. “It’s this vicious cycle where we put too much on our plate and we don’t have enough hours in the day,” Schoolar said. “You’ve got to pick and choose what it is you’re going to devote your time to. I don’t think you can do it all.”
Susan Aghedo Staff Writer
s.aghedo.thepanther@gmail.com
AMERICAN TEENS ARE SLEEP DEPRIVED of teens in grades 9-12 get insufficient sleep on school nights.
2.65
Average GPA of students who do not get enough sleep.
Sleeping 5 or fewer hours per night may increase mortality by as much as 15%.
3.05
Average GPA of students who sleep at least 7 hours per night.
STRESSED CONSEQUENCES of not getting enough sleep -POOR JUDGEMENT -NEGATIVE MOODS -WORSENED MEMORY
Nearly 1 in 5 teens say that they are more stressed when they do not get enough sleep.
-POOR HEALTH -DECLINING GRADES INFORMATION COURTESY OF INHABITOTS.COM
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As fireworks erupted at midnight on January 1, 2015, people across the world built a realm of hope and expectation for the new year. Personal promises of health and well-being accompanied shifts in the geopolitical climate and cultural advances. For some, 2015 brought the prosperity and happiness they hoped for. For others, 2015 set the stage for improvement in 2016. Whether you belong to the former group or the latter, a new year offers the chance at a fresh start or a continuation of success; a new chapter in your story or the simple flip of a page. INFOGRAPHIC BY REMY FARKAS
FEATURE 14
Charlie Hebdo, a French magazine featuring satirical cartoons, was attacked on Wednesday, January 7, resulting in 11 deaths. Two men stormed the magazine’s headquarters, killing the Editor-in-Chief and staff cartoonists. French police later identified the gunmen as as brothers Chérif and Saïd Kouachi. They claimed to have avenged the Islamic prophet Muhammad.
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Another shooting of a policewoman in Montrouge became connected to the attack. The gunman took hostages in a supermarket later killing four. Amedy Coulibaly, the gunman and friend of the Kouachi brothers threatened to kill the hostages unless both brothers were set free. French police took down the Kouachi brothers and Coulibaly after three days.
The White House stated on October 30th that troops would be deployed in Syria to help rebels fight against ISIS. This would be the first instance of the U.S. sending aid in the form of fewer than 50 Special Operations personnel, amidst the continuing battle against ISIS. These troops will help the Kurdish opposition to ISIS with strategy and planning in northern Kurdish-controlled Syria A Gallup poll showed that 53% of Americans do not support troops on the ground while 43% do.
OCTOBER INFORMATION COMPILED BY KATHARINE HSIAO AND SUSAN AGHEDO
2015
14
FEBRUARY
New England Patriots defeat Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl XLIX.
INFORMATION COMPILED BY BLAKE RUBENSTEIN
Artists gather to share their music at Miami Music Week with thousands.
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FEATURE 15
Nepal was struck by the Gorkha Earthquake, the most devastating natural disaster to hit Nepal since an earthquake in 1934. Gorkha was recorded as a 7.8 magnitude earthquake. Houses flattened, leaving hundreds of thousands of residents homeless. The deadly earthquake triggered two major avalanches, one in Langtang Valley and another
Viola Davis became the first black woman to win an Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series for the show “How To Get Away With Murder” on September 20th. She beat out Taraji Henson, Claire Danes, Tatiana Maslany, Elisabeth Moss and Robin Wright. In her acceptance speech, she recited a
on Mount Everest. Aftershocks continued with some reaching as high as 7.3, killing more than 200 and injuring 2,500 people near the Chinese border. Mount Everest shifted southwest 1.18 inches and Kathmandu, a major city in Nepal, was left in ruins. People constructed makeshift shelters along the streets looking through piles of rubble for survivors or belongings.
quote from Harriet Tubman. “The only thing that separates women of color from anyone else is opportunity,” she said. “You cannot win an Emmy for roles that are simply not there.” These words, the most recognizable part of the speech, drew massive amounts of praise, along with some criticism for not including all women.
EMBER VISIT WWW.THEPALMETTOPANTHER.COM TO READ MORE ABOUT STUDENTS’ JOURNEY THROUGH 2015
JUNE
JULY
The Confederate flag that stood at the steps of the entrance to South Carolina’s congress was lowered after 54 years. The controversy arose when a shooting occurred a month before in Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church, a black church. Hundreds of spectators watched the flaglowering ceremony chanting “Hey,
On June 26th, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of legalizing gay marriage, overriding the bans that some states had against it. This historic event was a victory to many in the LGTBQ community, who not only have the ability to legally marry, but now have the same rights as married heterosexual couples. The White House was lit in the colors of the rainbow, that have come to symbolize the LGTBQ community. A number of people poured into the streets and said their vows in celebration.
hey, goodbye!” and ‘USA!’ After long hours of debate between South Carolina’s lawmakers, the Confederate flag was agreed to be taken to a state military museum for exhibition. While many still have varying views on the flag’s symbolism, many see it symbolic of racism and slavery.
PHOTOS COURTESY OF MIAMI PALMETTO STUDENTS
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November The first two ISIS orders 6 females complete attacks throughout the U.S. Army’s Paris, France, Ranger School. killing 130 people.
21
AUGUST
14 people are killed in shooting at social services center in San Berardino, CA.
3
DECEMBER
INTO
2016
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he January 7th attack of Parisian satirical magazine, Charlie Hebdo, caused panic in France. In response to the parodic drawings of the Muslim Prophet Muhammad, two masked gunmen shot at editors for the newspaper, resulting in 12 deaths and 11 injuries. The Republican Party presented sixteen candidates for the presidential nomination. Candidates new to politics such as business tycoon Donald Trump amd renowned surgeon Ben Carson dominated the polls. Former Olympic Decathlon gold medalist and reality TV show star Bruce Jenner announced his transition to become a transgender woman. Caitlyn now serves as an ambassador for acceptance toward transgender people. Her reality series, “I Am Cait”, highlights her actions to create awareness for transgenderism. “People may crack jokes about athletes who come out as gay or transgender, but if you are good, you are good and there’s no changing that,” senior Sebastian Gonzalez said. On June 26, symbols of gay pride and the phrase “love wins” spreaded throughout social media, celebrating the Supreme Court’s ruling to legalize gay marriage in the U.S. The first day of school welcomed incoming freshmen and principal Victoria Dobbs, who replaced Dr. Allison Harley. Harley accepted a position at Dr. Michael M. Krop Senior High School. Pope Francis embarked on a trip to South America and the U.S. during September to hold masses and speak to leaders. Francis visited Washington D.C. New York City, and Philadelphia. “I think the pope visiting will help promote amicable relations between the US and Roman Catholics everywhere since he was generally warmly received by the public and even met with President Obama,” junior Victoria Noisom said.
A
t the start of 2016, the Russian firm, Orbital Technologies will begin their five year plan to create the first space hotel. Formally called the “Commercial Space Hotel”, the hotel, 250 miles above Earth, will have a maximum occupancy of seven guests and stays ranging from three days to six months. The hotel is going to have ammenities such as Internet and TV service. While some exclusive people will be heading off to space, American troops will be coming home. In 2016 the U.S. will pull the last remaining troops out of Afghanistan. There have been troops deployed since the beginning of October, 2001. Troops were sent overseas to Afghanistan in response to al Qaeda’s refusal to give up Osama bin Laden after the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001. “I’m happy the troops are finally coming home,” sophomore Emilia Aninat said. “The war went on for a long time and there were a lot of unnecessary deaths. I think we should’ve brought them home years ago.” With foreign tensions increasing, and acts of terrorism on the rise, some students fear the future. Extremist groups like ISIS have caused a sense of worry and anxiety around the world through their merciless acts. “I’m relieved our troops are finally coming home after waging such a hard war in Afghanistan, however my main concern in retrospect to any war is the high probability that we will be sending our troops out again to fight ISIS.” sophomore Chad Girnun said. Issues regarding terrorism and foreign policy have become prevalent in the 58th U.S. presidential race, which will take place on November 8, 2016.
Back 2015 Megan Martinez
Business Manager
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ADS 17
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SPORTS 18
ATHLETES OUTSIDE OF PALMETTO Not all athletes at Palmetto don their baby and navy blue uniforms. Although MPSH operates a large athletic department, they are unable to offer all sports that the student body engages in. This limitation sometimes forces students to find their passions in sports outside of Palmetto’s walls. Top gymnast, junior Erika De La Cruz, has won countless awards throughout her gymnastics career. De La Cruz found her niche and a love for gymnastics after winning nine competitions on the state level and fifth place in national competition. “I was disappointed because I couldn’t represent my school doing gymnastics, but at least college has gymnastics,” De La Cruz said. “Even though I compete individually,
PHOTO COURTESY OF HOWARD PITA
“
DURING MOST OF MY CAREER I WAS THE HUMBLE UNDERDOG THAT ALWAYS SEEMED TO WIN IT IN THE END, I WON TWO STATE TITLES.
“
Lucian Pita (9)
I still have my teammates to cheer me on and stand behind me.” This choice to leave behind the comfort and support of school athletics can be difficult. For sports not available in a public school environment, students often have no choice but to turn their attention outward. Senior Spencer Elmslie, a competitive sailor, finds his passion while he trains privately for Coral Reef Yacht club. Elmslie dedicates his time to a sport he hopes to enjoy for the remainder of his life. “Being on the water cruising across the tops of waves with the sun and salty air is so pleasing to me,” Elmslie said. Sailing combines endurance, strength, intellect and a knowledge of the elements that makes up the technical sport. Rowing her way into first place, junior Gabriela Boudani competes for the Miami Rowing Club. Working with a team of fellow teens, Boudani hopes to continue her successful rowing career in college. “I do crew because I love to work out so it’s very fitting for me. I love to compete and rowing is intense and competitive,” Boudani said. “I chose crew [after] taking a break from my old sport and I fell in love with it, along with it being an Ivy League college sport which just made it that much more enticing.” Sports practiced by students outside of Palmetto include more than gymnastics and rowing. With a love for biking from his father, BMX was a logical progression for
PHOTO COURTESY OF LEE ELMSLIE
“
I SAIL BECAUSE I FELL IN LOVE WITH THE OCEAN AND THE COMPETITIVE SPORT WHEN I WAS ONLY EIGHT.
“
Spencer Elmslie (12)
freshman Lucian Pita. Pita dedicated a great deal of time training, riding at least 10 miles every day and earning recognition as one of the top bikers in the country. “I was invited to the national championship race known as the presidents cup. At this race in Tulsa Oklahoma the top 10 [competitors] from each state for my age group were invited,” Pita said. “I took first in the first qualifying race and and took it all [in the championship].”
Brian Morrison Copy Editor
b.morrison.thepanther@gmail.com
FROM A
SPORTS 19
PALMETTO
PANTHER
Palmetto alumnus Fernando Lovo (pictured left) has gone through quite the journey to become the Assistant Athletic Director at the University of Houston (UH). After his graduation in 2006, Lovo attended the University of Florida (UF). During his sophomore year at UF, Lovo began working as a member of the football team’s equipment staff and worked in the operations department. By his senior year, Lovo was part of two national championship winning teams under head coach Urban
&
THE PANTHER: Is there anyhting different at Houston with Tom Herman than with Urban Meyer at Ohio State and Florida? FERNANDO LOVO: People always ask how
Coach Herman is. I always say Coach Herman runs his program like Urban Meyer. If there is anyone who plans to run their program better than Coach Meyer I would like to meet him. He is truly a players’ coach. We obviously put our own spin on things. If you took a snapshot of our programs, it is a testament to Coach Meyer and Coach Herman that they have been able to bring a winning culture to Ohio State and Houston and get the best out of their players.
TP: What is your ultimate goal as far as what positions you would like to hold in the future? FL: I’ve always said my ultimate goal is to be athletic director at a division one school. My dream job is to be Athletic Director at UF. God has blessed me with the ability to follow the right path to get where I want to go, to move over full time to the administrative side.
TO A
HOUSTON
COUGAR
Meyer at UF. When Meyer was hired by Ohio State University (OSU) in 2011 as head coach, Meyer took Lovo with him. In his third season at OSU, the Buckeyes won the inaugural college football playoff. After the season, OSU offensive coordinator Tom Herman was hired as head coach at UH. Herman offered Lovo the Assistant Athletic Director position, the position he currently holds. In his first season, the Cougars went 12-1 and won the American Athletic Conference Championship.
TP: Did you originally plan to go into a career in college football? If not, what were your original plans in college as far as a career path? FL: When I first started at UF, I was a political
science major. I was pretty set on being involved in politics or a lawyer. Stepping foot on campus in 2006 in Gainesville, I never envisioned being where I’m at right now. At Florida, I was able to take the time to truly discover what I wanted to do with my career. I even took my LSAT and it was a hard choice to choose between law and football. Working at UF with the football team, it opened my eyes to something that I never thought I would consider doing as a career, but I wouldn’t change it for the world.
TP: Out of all your destinations, which one has been your favorite and why? FL: I can say that Houston has been my favorite stop. At a place like UH, I would say that you enjoy your time in college, as they’re the best four years of your life. You have to work and gain experience while you are in school. Especially in athletics, teams will ask you what experience you have. I know people that have degrees from prestigious institutions but do not always have the experience. You have to find a way to make things happen. Coach Herman always jokes that the answer is always yes. It has helped me with my strength and weaknesses. I’ve really enjoyed my time at UH and working with Herman has been a complete joy.
PHOTO COURTESY OF MARK BATKE
TP: Did you expect to win the national championship at Ohio State so quickly? FL: The thing about OSU and UH is that we inherited really good players. We were able to take it to the next level. We were able to change the culture with the guys on the team. When you win close games, the team gets closer and the love for one another grows. We were able to maximize the talent and went on a run that was unprecedented. If we were able to play in the National championship in 2012, I think we would have won. TP: Who is the player that enjoyed working alongside with the most and why?
FL: It is so hard to pick just one. I think back
on Tim Tebow. I would be remiss if I didn’t say I developed a friendship with one of the greatest college football players of all time. He was a great teammate and a great leader. To see him lead the way he did in those years of college that I worked with him I think back on it and it really inspired me to work harder, to be a leader, and to be a positive role model to people around me. He is one of the best I have ever been around.
Alec Lanzas
Sports Editor
a.lanzas.thepanther@gmail.com
Shane McCrink Sports Editor
s.mccrink.thepanther@gmail.com
INSIGHT 20
Paris Attack
November 15,2015
The attack influenced The New York Times to dedicate 3/4 of its front cover to the event.
AWARENESS
Lebanon Attacks
BP Oil Spills
November 12, 2015
April 20, 2010
The coverage focused on the politics while the Paris attacks reflected more concern for the casualties.
Bombs exploded. Gunshots echoed. As smoke and tragedy filled the air on November 13, all eyes turned to Paris. The City of Lights became dark as the world shifted its focus on the attacks that plagued the city. Facebook profile pictures sported French flag filters. An image of the Eiffel Tower depicted as a peace sign transformed into a universally recognized symbol of respect. Every news outlet had a report, every social media site had a hashtag and every person had an opinion. It seemed as though terrorism was on everyone’s lips with France acting as the epicenter of attention. While a vast amount of support came as the result of these attacks, so did a heavily weighted question – why did we, as a country, suddenly express social media solidarity when incidents like this occur often in every corner of the world? September 11, 2001 shook our nation and caused humanity to bow its head in mourning. The beheading of James Foley on August 19, 2014 shed light upon the many on the terrors of the Islamic State. When news hit regarding Paris, citizens immediately turned to Twitter, Facebook and Instagram to express their sorrow and demand an imperative call to action by our world leaders. While each of these incidents involved acts of terror, they also contained another commonality. The 9/11 attacks happened in America. James Foley was a British journalist. The terrorist targeted Paris The pattern slowly shifts into focus. When terrorism threatens
Between April 20 and July 28, news coverage peaked at 45%.
Hurricane Katrina
Twin Tower Attack
Out of 1,590 articles, 78% were about the recovery of the hurricane.
In network news, topics in terrorism rose more than 135% and rose 102% in foreign policy.
August 29, 2005
September 11, 2001
INFOGRAPHIC BY KATHARINE HSIAO AND MARLOWE STARLING INFORMATION COURTESY OF AM J PUBLIC HEALTH, PEW RESEARCH CENTER AND SLATE
Western countries, people pay attention. The reasoning behind this subtle yet unfortunately common phenomena lies within the concept of selective attention. Emma Seppala, psychologist and science director of Stanford’s Center for Compassion and Altruism Research, explains selective attention as a natural human reaction, allowing us to empathize with disasters that affect individuals we may feel connected to. In the aforementioned incidents, the threat towards Western citizens and culture triggered a sense of urgency and empathy to echo throughout America, for we were able to place ourselves in the shoes of those who faced such disaster. In the case of Paris, the city remains a notorious vacation spot for Americans. In fact, according to parisinfo.com – the official website of the Paris Convention and Visitor’s Bureau – a total of 1.6 million Americans visit Paris every year. Americans thus hold the ability to easily connect with Paris, to express a fondness towards the nation. The shooting within a Parisian concert hall during an American rock band concert strikes a chord within citizens of the United States – we find it easy to picture ourselves in the Bataclan Theatre, enjoying the familiar music on a Friday evening. The influence and similarity of French culture to our own increases the connection felt when one side faces calamity. This same concept highlights the
correlation between Non-Western nations and the lack of solidarity they receive when faced with equally impactful tragedy. Only a day before the attacks on Paris, Beirut, the capital of Lebanon, faced a pair of suicide bombings claimed by ISIS, killing 43 and leaving at least 239 wounded, according to cnn.com. These numbers never made it into the minds of Americans; Twitter did not sport Lebanon hashtags nor were any security checkpoints implemented for Beirut on Facebook. BBC News reported that the attacks faced by Beirut were the deadliest terrorist bombings since the end of Lebanon’s civil war in 1990, yet the social and psychological disconnect between ourselves and the people of Lebanon caused their disaster to fade into the background. The notion of statistical numbness, which causes individuals to feel less empathy when they hear about mass tragedy, acts as an explanation for this desensitized reaction. Many associate violence in the Middle East to be commonplace, causing for desensitization to mask over the depth and weight behind the events. Without experiencing the connection of culture that was evident through the Parisian bombings, American shootings and British beheadings, the schism between what we mourn and what we choose to ignore will eventually swallow the latter whole.
Claudia Vera
Online Editor-in-Chief
c.vera.thepanther@gmail.com
INSIGHT 21
IS SOCIAL MEDIA ACTIVISM REAL ACTIVISM? Mistaken by many as a lazy or cowardly system, activism’s increasing role on social media platforms provides opportunity for everyday leaders to unite and express themselves freely. The Huffington Post names social media campaigning one of the most powerful forms of activism. An anonymous nominee from Brazil for Shorty Awards’ Activism category, @CanalDoOtario, vlogs on YouTube about misleading advertising, freedom of speech and government propaganda. He became well known throughout America and even received an attack from The Wall Street Journal, stating he simply suffers from lack of free speech online. Social media activism ranges through anything from denoting large institutions to promoting positive views of body image. Famous instagrammer, Essenia O’Neill, launched a “Social Media Is Not Real Life” movement in November in which she uses Instagram to discuss the evils of the social network. Under every aesthetically pleasing photograph of herself, she inserted a caption describing the struggle of getting the perfect picture. Captions range from talking about barely eating the day of the photograph in order to get her stomach to look flat, taking hundreds of pictures before finally deciding on sharing that one, and explaining that she received a pay of several thousands of dollars to wear a specific dress and post it. Paired with these revealing descriptions, her pictures opened the eyes of teenagers all around the world to the reality of insta-famous people. The purpose-- bringing awareness to society’s obsession with the perfect body image, and how hard it is to achieve it. Like O’Niell, many others on social media sponsor a movement to make a social change or bring awareness to subjects teenagers would otherwise find irrelevant. The globally trending #PrayForParis has over 8.1 million tweets; how many of us are guilty of finding out about the terrorist attack through social media versus the news? Retweeting or liking things is much easier than speaking aloud, and reaches a more extensive audience, an audience with the option to pass it on. Rallies are organized in a matter of hours and broadcasted all over the world via snapchat. The spread of news and call to action now occur more quickly, due to increased internet usage, giving activism the backbone it needs.
Social media and internet communication has become pivotal in the foundations of activist movements, as these groups have been able to reach audiences unlike ever before. In a society that relies so heavily on the internet for information, social network posts advocating for certain causes are impossible to ignore. Critics of this idea have labeled it “slacktivism”, making it seem like a lazy form of activism, or activism for slackers. Considering the little effort required to take part in these campaigns-- sharing a Facebook post, retweeting a tweet-- slacktivism is the perfect word for it. Slacktivism perpetuates the incongruence between social media and real life. In November, Instagram celebrity Essenia O’Neill took to her social networks to launch her campaign against social media. Logical, right? O’Neill posted a 17-minute video to her Youtube channel, expressing her disgust with social media and how it corrupted her personally. O’Neill’s only option was to broadcast her sentiments on her social network accounts, obviously. After posting the video, she changed the captions of her formerly energetic Instagram posts to ones that expressed her true despondence. But if she really despised social media, why would she use it to gain supporters for her campaign? Because she knew that people would be more willing to like and share her posts rather than abstaining from social media, which is what she campaigned for. Activism is more than tweeting about how #BlackLivesMatter, or changing your profile picture to “show support.” Activism, by definition, is the policy or action of using vigorous campaigning to bring about political or social change. Yes, getting the idea onto your followers’ timelines may be considered “vigorous campaigning,” but what about the person in your class who constantly makes racist jokes? Rather than waiting to go home and tweeting about how uncomfortable the statements make you, why not say something to them right then? Before you take to your social networks to combat injustice, consider your options. Not all activism consists of violent protests, even though they tend to draw the most attention to the situation. A true activist actually brings about change they wish to see, and does not simply say that they are going to do so.
Agnes Bartha
Victoria Arguelles
a.bartha.thepanther@gmail.com
v.arguelles.thepanther@gmail.com
Photo Editor
WHAT DO YOU TWEET?
Managing Editor
LoveWins
PrayForParis
6.2 million tweets within six hours of the Supreme Court ruling.
8.1 Million tweets since attacks on November 13.
BlackLivesMatter
IStandWithAhmed
Average 13,000 tweets per hour.
More than 209,000 in 24 hours.
INFORMATION COURTESY OF THE NEW YORK TIMES INFOGRAPHIC BY REMY FARKAS, KATHARINE HSIAO, AND MARLOWE STARLING
EDITORIAL 22
STAFF
FAST FORWARD EDITORIAL On November 16th, 1965, Walt Disney first launched the the Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow, more commonly known as EPCOT. The city that Disney planned represented his “ideal future community.” Disney incorporated ideas and technology that he thought would emerge in the future. The everchanging systems of the American industry halted Disney’s production of the completed city. Disney intended for EPCOT to showcase the “ingenuity and imagination of American free enterprise.” Disney developed the idea behind EPCOT watching his grandchildren grow up in a world of crime, dirt, and disorganization. He wanted their future and the the world their children would live in to be free of these problems prevalent in most cities. The community Disney planned was not for play, but for people to live in.
Samantha Ganter & Emma Seckinger
Senior Copy Editor & Print Managing Editor s.ganter.thepanther@gmail.com & e.seckinger.thepanther@ gmail.com
T
he dread that accompanies the end of a vacation from school is typically accompanied by hours of homework from students’ more rigorous classes. Although extensive school vacations, such as winter break and spring break, allow for extended time to complete assignments, other holidays scattered throughout the year receive little to no recognition from teachers. Major celebrations such as Yom Kippur for Jewish students and Eid al-Fitr for Muslim families are overlooked by teachers and followed by hours of homework. While most teachers respect winter break as a time of relaxation and rejuvenation, the minority of students who are not granted two weeks dedicated to their religion’s most important holiday oftentimes find themselves struggling to balance academic obligations and enjoying the novelties of their faith. Teachers justifiably fear that extended periods of stagnation will negate the progress that students made during the first semester. Winter break only recognizes the most important holiday of Christianity and although Christianity is the most widely followed religion of the United States, it certainly is not the only one. “The holiday season” only encompassses a small portion of the expansive diversity of our school and the globe and can not be defined by one single denomination’s celebration. Teachers should not only consider the faith of a single group of students but of a diverse student body with a variety of needs.
LETTERS TO THE
EDITOR
Fifty years later, on November 16th, 2015, the fourth installment of The Hunger Games movie series was released in theaters across the country. Set in an eerily dystopian society, the series follows the story of a female heroine, played by Jennifer Lawrence, who incites a revolution toward a more democratic society. The book is set in a future version of the United States, in which a war fragmented the country. After the war, the new government, centered around the Capitol, holds “the Hunger Games,” a game in which two children per district, a boy and a girl, fight to death once a year. The games resulted from a nationwide rebellion, in which all 13 districts rebelled against the capitol, leading to the destruction of the 13th district, which secretly exists. The capitol aimed to create a “perfect” nation, one without any opposition. Nonetheless, the capitol is riddled with corruption and thrives off of deceiving the citizens of Panem. Just like Disney planned his “perfect” city, President Snow planned his ideal nation. No matter how well-planned out, Snow encountered problems in his society when Katniss rebelled. No matter how flawless a facade may seem, the cracks in a foundation will eventually come to light.
HOME(WORK) FOR THE HOLIDAYS
DEAR EDITOR, I really liked the article, “The Right Balance.” I liked this article because teenagers could really relate to it because a lot of teens find it hard to balance their social life with trying not to fall behind on school.This article showed that it is possible to balance out both. Another point that I liked about it was it showed
that it is ok to take a break during the weekend to just catch up on your social life.
SINCERELY,
SOPHIA DEALEJO (9)
*Letters submitted may be edited for length, grammar and clarity. Letters can be submitted to Room 911B or thepanthermpsh@gmail.com
DEAR EDITOR, I really enjoyed the article about underage drinking and party culture. It gives students an idea about our society’s traditions and what the average teenager does on weekends. However, the numbers do seem unrealistic. For example, the amount of kids who have drived [sic] under the influence.
SINCERELY, ANASTASIYA DUDARYK (10)
The Panther staff aims to inform fellow students and parents about school-wide, local, national, and international news. The Panther’s content aims to represent the student body. Editorials feature the opinions of staffers. Features of other students, teachers and clubs further promote the spirit, culture and personality of Miami Palmetto Senior High School.
the
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The Panther is a monthly publication of Miami Palmetto Senior High located at 7460 S.W. 118th Street Miami, FL 33156, (305) 235-1360 ext. 2337. The views expressed are solely those of The Panther staff. Students who wish to respond to an article in this publication or discuss another issue may write letters to the editor and submit them to room 911B or e-mail us at thepanthermpsh@ gmail.com. The Panther has professional membership in NSPA and CSPA. The Panther prints 3,000 copies per issue for distribution. The Panther is distributed for free to all students in school. Subscriptions (for cost) are also available. Please visit our paper online at thepalmettopanther.com. Byline policy: All creative work (such as illustrations, graphics, photos and writing) excluding staff editorials and staff member pictures will include byline credits.
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